Descrizione
April 12 - April 19, 2025
7 days, 6 nights / 6 days of excursions and visits
Maximum group size: 7 people / itinerant / picnic lunches, restaurant meals, and tastings
Liguria: A region stretching like an arch at the foot of the Alps and the Apennines, nestled between sea and mountains.
This is a rugged territory where the land has always been challenging to cultivate and adapt due to its wild, twisted nature—still largely unspoiled or nearly so in many areas.
Along the coast, seaside resorts of varying sizes are interspersed with small fishing villages that retain the maritime character that has defined them over the centuries, dating back to the time of the Maritime Republic of Genoa, "La Superba," now the region’s capital and the principal port of Northern Italy and beyond.
From west to east, the Alpine mountain range, which finds its southeastern terminus in Liguria, seamlessly transitions into the Ligurian Apennines, lowering its profile as it stretches eastward toward Tuscany and central Italy.
In Western Liguria, between the provinces of Imperia and Savona, the climate is generally milder thanks to the protective peaks of the Ligurian Alps Regional Park (with Monte Saccarello being the highest at 2,201 meters). In the late 19th century, this area became a haven for illustrious figures from the worlds of politics, art, and aristocracy (notably British and Russian), drawn by its paradisiacal charm, lush and diverse vegetation, and proximity to the sea.
In Eastern Liguria, between the provinces of Genoa and La Spezia, the terrain becomes more typically Apennine, culminating at the edge of the region in the National Park of the Cinque Terre. Here, the endless terraces of dry-stone walls, which have tamed the land for cultivating vineyards and olive groves, have earned UNESCO World Heritage status.
Throughout Liguria during the medieval period, the nearby hinterland saw the establishment of fortified settlements and villages to defend the territory’s borders against Saracen invasions from the sea. Today, these areas have become well-established destinations for slower, more sustainable tourism.
Cycling in Liguria offers a richly varied experience with its diversity of landscapes, climates, and colors—the same hues that inspired many French Impressionist painters during their stays, captivated by the verdant forests (Liguria is by far Italy’s most forested region, with 73.4% of its land covered in woods) and the deep blue of the Ligurian Sea. Since 1999, the sea has been part of a large protected area for cetacean conservation (shared with France and Monaco) under the Pelagos Sanctuary.
Day 1 – Arrival in Liguria and transfer to Pigna for overnight stay
Day 2 – Loop through Nervia Valley: Pigna, Baiardo, Perinaldo, Apricale
Approx. +/-700 m elevation; 35 km; Loop
Day 3 – Coastal bike path to Imperia
Approx. -350 m elevation; 60 km; Linear
Day 4 – Loop through Manie and Monte Mao; Bergeggi
Approx. +/-600 m elevation; 40 km; Partial loop
Day 5 – Finale Ligure and Caprazoppa promontory
Approx. +/-600 m elevation; 40 km; Loop
Day 6 – Levanto, Bonassola, Framura, on the doorstep of the Cinque Terre
Approx. +/-700 m elevation; 30 km; Loop
Day 7 – The Cinque Terre: between hinterland and sea
Approx. +/-400 m elevation; 25 km; Loop
Day 8 – Transfer to Pisa and return home
- Cycle touring
- Cicloturismo, E-bike, Mare, Liguria, Borghi, Pedalare, Bicicletta, Entroterra, Storia, Cultura
